Ed McMahon

Jayne Meadows
& Steve Allen

Van Nuys, CA, January 8, 1997 – Entertainers extraordinaire Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows will head a star-studded cast set to lead Southern California seniors to glide through the course of the first annual Los Angeles Marathon FHP Health Care Senior Walk at Sony Studios on March 1, 1997 from 9 a.m. - 12 noon. FHP Health Care, known for quality preventative health care services and programs for seniors established the Senior Walk to encourage seniors to exercise their way to more productive and energetic lives. The event is free and family members of all ages are encouraged to participate. Registration is available through local senior centers or by calling (800) 769.0513. Free transportation will also be provided to and from Sony Pictures Studios from various locations and senior centers throughout the Southland, including the following locations:

Virginia Mayo

Holy Cross Hospital, 15031 Rinaldi Street, Mission Hills
Northridge Hospital Medical Center, 14500 Sherman Circle, Sherman Way Campus, Van Nuys
Glendale Aventist Health, 381 Merril Avenue, Glendale
Joslyn Senior Center, 11 South First Street, Alhambra
Carson Senior Center, 801 East Carson Street, Carson
Virginia Park, 2100 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica
Weingarten Senior Center, 5220 Oliva Avenue, Lakewood
Ward Villas Senior Center, 1177 West Adams Avenue, Los Angeles
Talbert Medical Group, 8311 Florence Avenue, Downey
Westwide Jewish Community Center, 5870 West Olympic Boulevard, Mid-Wilshire

Rip Taylor

Lending their talents to the glide through memory lane at Sony Pictures Studios will be a group of “MGM studio system” stars, including actors Ed McMahon,, Margaret O’Brien, Virginia Mayo, Rip Taylor and Rose Marie who will share their memory of Hollywood’s glory days at the walk site. These celebrities will be joined by a group of Senior Olympians from across Southern California who will coach participants on how to succeed in the Senior Walk. The FHP Senior Walk will feature include a product expo, showcasing products geared towards an active senior lifestyle. Entertainment will include a demonstration of the Arthritis Foundation’s PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise!) and proceeds from a commemorative t-shirt sale will benefit the organization. Each of the expected 3000 walkers will receive goodie bags and personalized photos. Participants will have a chance to match speeds, meet and obtain autographs from celebrities. A VIP meet and greet with Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows will be held for the first 500 FHP Senior Plan cardholders who register for the walk. This event is part of the festivities leading up to the annual Los Angeles Marathon on March 2, 1997.

Peter Marshall

“FHP Health Care is committed to encouraging the well-being of Americans,” says John K. Wagner, Vice President, FHP Health Care of California. “Studies have shown, as well as athletic examples of health such as Jack LaLanne and Betty and Joe Weider, that exercise benefits the human body. Our commitment to the community is to provide opportunities for seniors to enjoy healthy activities and therefore, we are proud to be a sponsor of the Los Angeles Marathon and to add the FHP Health Care Senior Walk as part of the pre-event festivities.”

Margaret O'Brien

Senior Walk leaders Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows share FHP’s dedication to fitness. “While I prefer to greet the morning on the treadmill with a glass of orange juice,” says the fiery redhead Ms. Meadows, “Steve prefers exercising and jogging …in the pool.” “Seriously,” winks Mr. Allen, “All those years at the piano and on-stage made it difficult to keep a schedule of proper sleep and optimum health, but we always made sure we walked or swam to keep our energy level and spirits high. We believe that no matter what, you have to keep moving. And in our case, the older we get, the faster we move.”

Jean Smart

FHP Health Care is a diversified health care services company headquartered in Fountain Valley, California. Its health maintenance organization subsidiaries serving over 1.8 million people in eleven states and Guam. FHP Health Care also operates a life and health indemnity insurer, a workers’ compensation insurer, a preferred provider organization and a national health care network. FHP Health Care is one of the nation’s largest providers of health care services to Medicare beneficiaries.
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